Edward E. Whitacre, Jr. College of Engineering

What's New

Texas Tech University Oilfield Technology CenterThe Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering began construction in June 2016
on the Oilfield Technology Center (OTC) on the Texas Tech East Campus. Located on
10 acres of land near the intersection of East Loop 289 and fourth street in Lubbock,
the facility is designed to serve as a research and teaching facility to give both
undergraduate and graduate petroleum engineering students a hands-on experience in
the design and operation of typical oilfield equipment.

The center piece of the OTC is a fully equipped 4,000 foot deep test well drilled
in 2001 with a 456D pumping unit on it. The unperforated test well provides the capability
of supporting research in artificial lift equipment and techniques as well as the
development and testing of other cased-hole tools. The well was pulled and reconditioned
in mid-October this year. A casing inspection log and a pressure test confirmed that
the well integrity is good and ready for service.

A full-scale tank battery complete with processing equipment is currently under construction.
The tank battery can be used in researching better surface production methods and
environmental controls. Using the battery in combination with the test well, the effects
on production can be demonstrated when changes in well conditions or surface equipment
are made.

Construction will begin this fall on a 50 person classroom and workshop combination
building on the site. This building will provide work space for researchers as well
as indoor space for exhibits of cut-away models of larger pieces of oilfield equipment.
Discussions are underway to explore the possibilities for the use by a third party
to conduct workforce development training using the classroom, well and tank battery.

Long range plans for the OTC include adding a high pressure gas handling facility,
a drilling rig and a test well for demonstrating running techniques for down-hole
equipment. Ample space is also available at the OTC to construct other large scale
research test equipment configurations such as flow loops or drilling and production
operations that require significant space.

Donations of equipment, labor and financial resources from the oil and gas industry
have made the OTC possible. Petroleum engineering alumni have played a significant
role in securing these donations and recognizing the vision of the department under
leadership of Dr. Marshall Watson to provide this one of a kind facility.

Dr. Watson states "To the best of my knowledge, no other school in the world has a
facility like this. This million dollar facility will give our students a unique opportunity
see and touch the results of their academic work."